“The Trump administration has made yet another unpopular decision that will hurt the United States, but it will not derail the global agenda that is driving economic transformation and decarbonization worldwide. Last weekend’s G7 Leaders’ Summit was the latest confirmation that the world will keep moving forward on climate action without Trump.

Canada now has a choice: will we step into the leadership vacuum created by U.S. retreat from climate leadership or will we bow to detractors who, emboldened by Trump’s rhetoric, claim climate action puts Canada at a disadvantage?

With initiatives like the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change and Clean Growth and the forthcoming Canada-China-EU ministerial on climate change, the federal government has quickly established a track record of collaborating and working across differences to launch coherent climate strategies. Now is the moment to take that to the next level, and emerge on the world stage as a bold climate leader.

Trump may be ready to abandon the benefits associated with climate action, including improved air quality and human health, job creation in emerging industries, and international influence. Yet it is clear that American states, communities, and businesses are not willing to make the same sacrifice. Canadian governments and citizens will continue to work with these entities and allies in Mexico to maintain North American momentum on climate action.”Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, CAN-Rac Canada

“If Trump wants to walk away from the table, then Canada should eat his lunch. Climate solutions are already coming to the centre of the 21st century economy and anyone who drags their feet will miss out on the jobs that come with clean air, clean water and a stable climate. We urge the Trudeau government to live up to Canada’s climate obligations and show greater leadership in bringing such a sustainable economy to fruition. ”Keith Stewart, Senior Energy Strategist, Greenpeace Canada

“The potential US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement shines a spotlight on the long-standing need for Canada to develop its own, independent climate policy. In order to safeguard the well-being of future generations and vulnerable populations in the Arctic and Global South, Canada must move forward with bold resolve and ambitious action to reduce emissions and address climate change. People of faith across Canada have repeatedly called for strong climate action and remain committed to working for climate justice.”Karri Munn-Venn, Senior Policy Analyst, Citizens for Public Justice

“Trump does not seem to understand or care that tens of thousands of people are dying each year from climate related impacts already; most of them are children and the elderly from some of the poorest countries in the world., But we take heart from the momentum that is building for transition away from fossil fuels; in Canada, at a sub-national level in the US, and in jurisdictions such as India and China. Leadership has never been more important. The world can’t wait!”Kim Perrotta MHSc, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

“The US administration had every intention to be obstructive and weaken the Paris Agreement in future negotiations. By taking themselves out of the negotiations, the US now ensures that the ambition raising mechanisms of the Paris Agreement will remain intact. The Paris Agreement sets a clear direction of travel: climate pledges that get more and more ambitious over time, to eventually meet the scale of the challenge, without any backtracking by anybody. Only the climate leaders remain engaged now to rapidly implement the Paris Agreement and raise its ambition over time.”Annie Bérubé, Director of Government Relations, Équiterre

“Even though the U.S. administration is out, the world continues to move ahead. The Paris Agreement is still strong, and countries and states will continue to propel renewables despite this decision. This is an incredible opportunity for Canada to seize a global leadership position in clean energy growth. With World Environment Day on June 5, the U.S.’s decision means that climate action is important now more than ever. This is our chance to show the world that Canadians are innovative and forward-thinking by prioritizing renewable energy and upholding our international commitments to act on climate change for the sake of people now and into the future.”Ian Bruce, Director of Science and Policy, David Suzuki Foundation

“After organizing for years under the Harper administration, young people in the climate movement in Canada are no stranger to the varied detrimental impacts of having a climate laggard at the table of international negotiations. We hope Trump’s departure from the Paris agreement will allow the rest of the global community to increase their ambition on climate action without interference. We also know that today’s decision does not necessarily reflect the views of those first and worst affected by the climate crisis in the US. We look forward to continuing to work with communities at the forefront of the climate crisis in the US and beyond to act boldly for climate justice.”Kiki Wood, National Director, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition

CAN-Rac Canada is a coalition of more than 100 organizations from the country that cares about how a changing climate affects people, plants and wildlife. We work to advance solutions to managing our carbon pollution through sustainable and equitable development.

]]>http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2017/06/01/climate-action-network-canada-reacts-to-trumps-decision-on-paris/feed/0Climate Action Network Canada responds to the outcome of the G7 Summithttp://climateactionnetwork.ca/2017/05/27/climate-action-network-canada-responds-to-the-outcome-of-the-g7-summit/
http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2017/05/27/climate-action-network-canada-responds-to-the-outcome-of-the-g7-summit/#respondSat, 27 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2017/05/27/climate-action-network-canada-responds-to-the-outcome-of-the-g7-summit/“Today was the latest example of the tremendous support countries and communities worldwide have invested in the Paris Agreement. The world knows that a prosperous future is one run on clean energy. Communities, businesses, Canada and other countries will continue to take action on climate and work to ensure a fair transition for people entering the new economy, because these actions serve national and regional interests as much today as they did seven months ago.

Canada has made significant political investments in decarbonization in the last two years, and given today’s outcome we expect Canada to bring climate leadership to the forefront of its agenda as 2018 G7 President.” – Catherine Abreu, Climate Action Network Canada

We hear a lot about how Canada is responsible for just 2% of global climate pollution. What we don’t hear much about is that, at 2%, we’re one of the world’s top 8 polluters. 2% is in fact double the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by 145 of the world’s least polluting countries combined.

When it comes to pollution per person, the picture gets even more grim. Canada is a serious contender for the distinction of being the world’s highest per capita polluter. There are a lot of reasons for this – Canada is cold, there are few of us, we’re spread out. But it’s obvious that we’re a big part of the problem and, as the world’s 10th richest country, we have the capacity and responsibility to act.

Fortunately , there is a new normal for Canada on the issue of climate change. We ratified the Paris Agreement in October 2016. That agreement brought every country in the world – 196 parties – together in an unprecedented display of solidarity on an issue of unprecedented urgency.

And, for the first time, Canada has a framework that brings the federal government, most provincial and territorial governments, and all major sectors of our economy together on a shared path of climate action.

Unveiled in December 2016, the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change and Clean Growth introduces an ambitious suite of policy proposals aimed at putting Canada on track to meet our current international commitment under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.

With this groundbreaking agreement between the federal government and most provinces and territories, we have promises to: introduce nation-wide carbon pricing by 2018; phase-out coal-fired electricity by 2030; reduce methane emissions 40-45% by 2025; phase-out fossil fuel subsidies by 2025; reduce the carbon intensity of all fuels used in Canada; develop a Canada-wide zero emissions vehicle strategy by 2018…the list goes on.

Our ability as a nation to turn these promises into action has major implications for the global effort to confront climate change. Analysis from Oil Change International tells us that without significant climate policy Canada will be the world’s second highest contributor of new oil production globally over the next twenty years. Meanwhile, recent studies show that the world will exceed 2 degrees Celsius of warming if emissions from all the fossil fuel reserves currently in production or under development are released.

And we know that not only do we need to make good on our current promise, but we need to generate success we can build on because our current goals aren’t good enough. Our 2030 commitment does not represent our fair share of addressing global climate change. We at Climate Action Network Canada estimate that Canada’s fair share contribution would see us reducing emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 while increasing our contribution to international climate financing to $4 billion/year by 2020.

Our current government came into office promising to treat the previous administration’s target as a floor to build upon, and we must hold them and ourselves to this pledge.

Implementing the Pan-Canadian Framework isn’t going to be easy. There are five big hurdles we will have to address:

1) Reconciling reconciliation with climate action. The Trudeau government has also made significant promises to improve federal relationships with Indigenous communities through a variety of measures including the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. To be a part of reconciling histories of marginalization, Canadian climate action must take up opportunities to address long-standing issues like First Nations housing crises.

2) Dependence on continued provincial/territorial leadership. A decade-long vacuum of federal leadership on climate saw provinces and territories step up to the plate in a big way to design their own climate plans customized to their particular abilities and needs. The Framework is intelligently designed to scale up the most impactful subnational activities established in recent years and to accommodate flexible provincial and territorial approaches to achieving outcomes mandated by federal policy. It is a creative approach that may turn Canadian federalism, which has traditionally constrained Canada’s ability to move coherently and consistently on climate change, into a strength. The vulnerability of this approach, of course, is that it relies on provinces and territories following through with and, in many cases, exceeding their current commitments.

3) The Trump Administration. With a shifting political landscape south of the border, concerns are being raised over supposed competitive disadvantages Canada might face if we move forward with climate action while our largest trading partner retreats. With this come calls for a weakening of Canada’s climate plans. Furthermore, there are several policies key to Canada’s ability to meet its targets that are harmonized with U.S. policy.

4) The Oil Lobby. The oil and gas sector represents more than 25% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. And we know that oil and gas companies are used to running the policy show in Ottawa. They take every opportunity to water down ambition and prevent Canada from doing its fair share of the global effort. They also deploy slick communications tactics to lull Canadians into thinking that the transition to renewables isn’t inevitable.

5) Canadian cognitive dissonance on climate. While Canada’s Prime Minister was running for office, Facebook and twitter lit up with oil spills that look like Justin Trudeau’s hair. If elected, Trudeau promised to both provide unprecedented leadership on climate change and get Canadian oil to market by building pipelines. Canadian campaigners used brilliant tactics to point out the calamitous contradictions baked in to the Liberals’ platform on climate.

But the Liberals weren’t alone in their confused campaign. Every party in Canada’s 2015 election promised to build fossil fuel infrastructure of some sort – whether pipelines or refineries. Canada’s left-of-center New Democratic Party ran on a platform opposed to some pipeline projects but open to others. Even Canada’s Green Party, which opposed all export pipelines, advocated for the construction of new refining capacity in Canada.

Cognitive dissonance on climate is the name of the game for most Canadians. A recent poll from Abacus data found that 40% of respondents felt it was possible for Canada to develop its oil resources and meet its emissions reduction targets. 36% were on the fence while only 24% acknowledged the impossibility of this equation.

Canadian government and Canadians more generally have yet to accept that – as Bill McKibben recently put it – you can’t have your cake and burn it, too. Yet the Pan-Canadian Framework means that Canada is now one of few major oil-producing jurisdictions to boast significant federal climate policy and the only federated state with a comprehensive climate plan that accounts for and counts on the coordinated action of subnational jurisdictions.

Clearly, there is critical work to be done securing ambition in Canada and ensuring the success of a climate plan that can act as a model for action to other jurisdictions. Because now more than ever the world needs climate leadership. Canada can and must provide examples of aggressive emissions reductions and economic transformation.

So here’s my pitch on how we ensure that federal, provincial, and territorial governments stay on track, that Canada continues to lead even if the U.S. falls behind, that we interrogate and uncover the depths of oil industry influence in Canada, and that we start to set Canada’s story straight when it comes to climate leadership and fossil fuels: we work together.

To elaborate, we work against one of the root causes of climate change – namely the strange mix of globalized institutions and myopic individualism associated with modern capitalism – by investing in community and nurturing feedback between the local and national/international.

This is at the heart of what we at Climate Action Network Canada do.

There is critical work to be done securing ambition in Canada and ensuring the success of a climate plan that can act as a model for action to other jurisdictions. To do this work, climate advocacy organizations must nurture a spirit of cross-sectoral collaboration and justice-based alliances. We need each other now more than ever.

Yet the Canadian climate community is still reeling from a decade-long federal administration that shunned climate targets and fuelled an extremely adversarial dynamic with Indigenous communities and environmental NGOs. Restoring faith in Canada’s ability to make progress on climate change and capacity to come to the defence when that progress is threatened will take time and care.

Here I take inspiration from Jason Mogus’ and Tom Liacas’ research into the building blocks of some of the 21st century’s most successful campaigns to-date. They identify four features that help organizations win:

Horizontal structures where power is genuinely shared with supporters and networks. This I summarize as EMPATHY.

The ability to frame a compelling cause where the solution is big enough to be inspiring, but is also winnable, and which features heroes and villains. In other words, STORYTELLING.

Willingness to make mistakes, share things that aren’t perfect, and have honest conversations, which we can sum up as HUMILITY.

Ultimately, the climate movement is a people’s movement, and I am dedicated to doing what I can to nurture the communities that movement creates. Politics can not change the minds and hearts of people who are defending their homes from rising sea levels, people who are putting their bodies on the line in Standing Rock and other communities to stop the advance of fossil fuel infrastructure, people who are no longer willing to live with the economic injustice and systems of oppression that are both the root and consequence of climate change.

“Today’s budget provides the financial backing we need to begin the serious work of implementing Canada’s climate framework and generating good, long-term jobs for Canadians. It also highlights several areas that need more work, particularly in building clean technology markets and ending fossil fuel subsidies.

While greater investment will be required in the future, budget 2017 lays out funding to cut climate pollution and build resilience in every sector of the Canadian economy. Important investments are made that will facilitate the implementation of progressive policies in: industrial and building energy efficiency; public transit and electric vehicles; clean electricity and smart grids. Northern Indigenous communities will put investments totalling almost $700 million to good use as they work to improve their energy security and protect the health of their citizens.

This budget also commits to reforming Canada’s labour market development tools so that more Canadians are trained and put to work in modern industries. This is not the full picture, but it is a hopeful start to a critical piece of the effort that will unfold over years to come.

Substantial investments in innovation have become one of the hallmarks of this government. Yet innovation dollars can only go so far as long as Canadian clean technology markets remain immature. More work is needed to create domestic demand and export opportunities for the products Canadian companies are innovating.

Budget 2017 takes small steps to address the billions of dollars Canada spends subsidizing the fossil fuel industry. Phasing out subsidies entirely is necessary to consistent Canadian action on climate change.

I look forward to funding that ensures oversight and accountability for the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change and Clean Growth in future budgets.”

Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, CAN-Rac Canada

“Canada’s national carbon pricing policy announced in October 2016 marked a true beginning for the economic transformation we need. The writing is on the wall: the trend to clean energy is now irreversible. As it stands Canada is struggling to catch up in recapturing its share of clean energy business globally and is facing a possible $10 barrel of oil in just ten years’ time. Canada’s carbon price will need to continue to ramp up after hitting $50 in 2022 to meet Canada’s current inadequate 2030 emissions target, a target that will have to increase for Canada to do its fair share. President Donald Trump is an economic wild card and Canada must stay the course with regard to the climate and energy file. As more and more of the world prices carbon pollution, we conclude: border tax adjustments for carbon pollution are inevitable and we expect to see them in future budgets.”

Cathy Orlando, National Director, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada

“Today’s budget puts in place necessary resources to implement the new climate plan. However, the Government of Canada has a long standing commitment to the G20 and in the Minister of Finance mandate letter to phase-out federal production subsidies to the fossil fuel industries in Canada. Today’s budget is a timid step in that direction. Given the massive federal investments in clean technologies and the new carbon pricing mechanism, it is imperative to have coherent fiscal policies when it comes to the fiscal treatment of our energy. We expected the federal government to put in place a clear plan and timeline to phase out all remaining preferential tax treatment it offers to the oil and gas sector in this budget. The changes announced today do not, in our opinion, fulfill this commitment .

Annie Bérubé, Director of Government Relations, Équiterre

“We applaud the $2 billion towards the Adaptation Fund for Canadian programs to adapt to climate change in Canada. But it seems our government is still leaving behind those around the world who are most affected by climate change. It’s disappointing to see no increase in development assistance, when Canada is way behind its peers in the OECD countries. How is Canada back on the international scene?”

Faris Ahmed, Policy Director, USC Canada

“Throughout this Lenten period, Canadian Christians are taking action to reduce their personal GHG emissions and also calling on the federal government to increase Canada’s emissions reduction target so that it is line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. With this in mind, Citizens for Public Justice, is pleased to see that Budget 2017 fully addresses the commitments made as part of Canada’s climate framework, and will continue to urge our government to strive to do more to address the global climate crisis.”

Karri Munn-Venn, Citizens for Public Justice

“Canada’s 2017 budget promises to fund initiatives that are aligned with the PanCanadian Framework on climate change. The new Smart Cities Challenge Fund, historic investments in transport and the Adaptation Fund for domestic purposes are steps in the right direction. What’s missing from the budget, however, is a clear plan to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.”

CAN-Rac Canada is a coalition of 100 organizations from the country that cares about how a changing climate affects people, plants and wildlife. We work to advance solutions to managing our carbon pollution through sustainable and equitable development.

Action Update: Canadian Climate Policy

INTRODUCTION

CAN-Rac, our members, and our colleagues have played critical roles in making the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change (PCF) a reality, but industry and other opponents are trying to water down the progress we have worked for. While the PCF isn’t perfect, and runs alongside some very disappointing decisions that have been made on infrastructure, it remains an essential catalyst for much-delayed climate action in Canada. The summary below provides a status update on the implementation of the PCF’s numerous policies, including an outline of some of the opposition we are facing. It includes a run-down of some of the work we and our colleagues have done to guard against mounting opposition to climate change policy progress in Canada, work that is invaluable to all of us as we look for ways to speak about and defend that progress .

In the months ahead all of us can play a role in helping ensure the PCF is fully implemented and sets Canada on a path to decarbonization.

PCF IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE

This section contains links to notices of intent, regulations being gazetted, and other relevant materials, as well as news stories.

•Building new and enhanced transmission lines between provinces and territories

•Reducing reliance on diesel in northern and remote communities

•Modernizing electricity systems

Status

• Notice of Intent to amend existing federal regulations governing emissions from coal-fired electricity, as well as to develop regulatory requirements for natural gas-fired electricity generation, issued Dec. 17, 2016; technical working group struck; regulations expected to head to Canada Gazette, Part 1 by end of year

◦NL just released a draft offset protocol for large industry that will allow facilities to generate offset credits for investments in energy efficiency and fuel switching to renewable energy, they’ll then be able to sell/trade credits with other facilities. They also doubled the gas tax in summer 2016. As yet unclear how they’ll add everything up to satisfy the fed’s requirements.

Opposition to carbon pricing – both the federal approach and provincial approaches – has been fierce and profuse. It would be hopeless to attempt to summarize it here. In particular, the idea that national carbon pricing will put Canada at a competitive disadvantage has gained a tremendous amount of traction and opposition to Alberta’s carbon levy is violent.

•Federal government has proposed regulations to reduce HFC consumption and prohibit the manufacture and import into Canada of certain products containing HFCs. It has also introduced measures to increase the recovery, recycling, and destruction of HFCs in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and established.

Opposition

Opposition to the methane regulations is very loud and again centred on the notion that they will put Canada at a competitive disadvantage, even though Canada’s current management of industrial methane emissions fall far short of existing regulations at the subnational level in the U.S. (i.e. even though progress has stalled in the U.S., Canada’s new regulations will only catch us up to the situation there, rather than making us more ambitious):

•Development of clean fuel standard (CFS) that will reduce carbon intensity of all fuels based on a full lifecycle analysis, resulting in 30Mt of emissions reductions

•Emissions standards for vehicles, including:

◦for light-duty vehicles

◦updating standards for heavy-duty vehicles

◦new efficiency requirements for heavy-duty trucks

◦efforts to support efficiency and fuel switching in rail, aviation, marine, and off-road sectors

•A Canada-wide zero emissions vehicle strategy by 2018

•Investments in electric vehicle infrastructure

•Investments in public transit, transportation hubs and ports

Status

•Environment and Climate Change have published a discussion paper on the CFS, with that we’re likely to see a technical working group in the summer, publication in Canada Gazette, Part 1, in mid-2018, with the final regulations scheduled for publication in Part 2 in 2019.

While these commitments are not facing the kinds of opposition others are, they are threatened by a couple of circumstances: 1) Canada’s vehicle emissions standards are harmonized with the United States’ Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards, which are under threat; 2) the CFS will require a new and, in some ways, unprecedented set of regulations – given this and the political climate, there is a chance of it slipping. An Executive Order dealing with the CAFE Standards is expected from Trump imminently.

•The California Air Resources Board is scheduled to complete its Mid-term Review and decide next steps on the Advanced Clean Cars Regulations during its next Board hearing on March 23-24 in Riverside. https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/acc/acc.htm

]]>http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2017/03/21/action-update-canadian-climate-policy-2/feed/0Statement from CAN-Rac’s Catherine Abreu on Canada/US commitments to Arctic Sustainabilityhttp://climateactionnetwork.ca/2016/12/21/statement-from-can-racs-catherine-abreu-on-canadaus-commitments-to-arctic-sustainability/
http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2016/12/21/statement-from-can-racs-catherine-abreu-on-canadaus-commitments-to-arctic-sustainability/#respondWed, 21 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2016/12/21/statement-from-can-racs-catherine-abreu-on-canadaus-commitments-to-arctic-sustainability/OTTAWA (December 20, 2016) – True to the spirit of the season, the Canadian and United States governments have delivered an exciting package of commitments to Arctic sustainability today. Foremost of these is designating Arctic waters indefinitely off-limits to future offshore oil and gas licensing. The Arctic is central to the lives of Indigenous communities that call it home and essential to the livelihood of the entire planet. Climate Action Network – Réseau action climate (CAN-Rac) Canada is thrilled to celebrate some big steps being taken to protect this exceptional and finely-tuned ecosystem.

CAN-Rac eagerly anticipates the development of an Arctic Policy Framework through an inclusive process that places Indigenous voices and traditional knowledge at its heart. We hope the Framework and Indigenous perspectives inform future conversations about the viability of low-impact shipping corridors, as well as further steps to halt the development of new oil and gas reserves that are incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“As we implement this Framework, we will move forward on respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, with robust, meaningful engagement drawing on the Traditional Knowledge […] We acknowledge and thank Indigenous Peoples across Canada for their climate leadership long before the Paris Agreement and for being active drivers of positive change”

Reiteration of support for UNDRIP, including free, prior and informed consent

“Today establishes a new normal for Canada on the issue of climate change. For the first time, we have a framework that brings the federal government, most provincial and territorial governments, and major sectors of our economy together on a shared path of climate action.

We congratulate all those who have contributed to this historic moment, and with it we expect a new era of coordinated action at the scale our climate commitments require. Genuine engagement with Indigenous communities across Canada is a critical feature of coordination.

The work begins now. We need rapid implementation to turn this Framework into a plan that puts us on track to meeting and then exceeding our 2030 emissions reduction target. The portion of emissions reductions that the Framework attributes to “additional measures” must be achieved with strong domestic action, including a carbon price that keeps climbing after 2022.

We are encouraged by the Framework’s strong references to accountability and pledge to increase climate ambition over time in line with Canada’s Paris commitment. We look forward to working with governments and stakeholders to design a series of concrete mechanisms that ensure parties stay on track with emissions reductions and come back to the table on a regular basis to escalate the ambition of our climate targets.

Global economic trends are clear. Canada’s long-term prosperity depends on our governments committing to genuine economic transformation right now. This means locking in decarbonization in every corner of our society. Building new fossil fuel infrastructure is out of step with this transition, and incompatible with a 1.5 degree future.

The Paris Agreement is about the world coming together to protect its most vulnerable communities and strive to limit average global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius. Staying true to Canada’s Paris promise means quickly executing a plan of action that paves the way for deep decarbonization beyond our current 2030 goal.” Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, CAN-Rac Canada

“Canadians and Manitobans are looking for vision and action so our country’s future matches these government commitments. They are watching today’s announcement from our First Ministers, and expecting action. Now it’s time to tell the story of positive steps to protect our future, work together, and make sure Canadians affected by climate changes already happening see a just transition.” Gaile Whelan Enns, Director, Manitoba Wildlands

“It is exciting to see us addressing the issues around climate change, as Canadians but also as northerners. The Northwest Territories has been holding NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework and NWT Energy Strategy workshops to engage key stakeholders in mitigation and adaption to local climate change impacts. We hope to see more progress at the federal level that will inspire action in the Territories and assist in this transition process.” Marissa Oteiza, Environmental Educator, Ecology North

“Today is a grounding first step in what will still be a long road to achieving meaningful climate action. We are very pleased to see the Provinces coming together in a manner that previously didn’t seem possible, but disappointed that BC isn’t exemplifying the true climate leadership we once held. We look forward to now seeing implementation through true collaboration.” Jessica McIlroy, Executive Director, BC Sustainable Energy Association

“Today’s announcement is an encouraging step forward, and truly the best we’ve yet accomplished at the federal level. We’re closer than ever to giving our communities the support they need in the just transition toward a zero-carbon economy, but we’re not there yet. The science on climate is clear, and this plan doesn’t line up with that science, nor Canada’s fair share under the Paris Agreement. There is much work left to do.” Stephen Thomas, Energy Campaign Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre

“Climate change is the issue of my generation. As young people we expect the federal government to be a leader on climate. We want to be able to celebrate a climate plan for Canada. In order to do so, we need a plan that: respects indigenous rights; well exceeds our current 2030 target; doesn’t allow for more dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure; and that puts us on track to the 1.5 degree limit of warming that we advocated for at COP21.” Kiki Wood, National Director, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition

“Today we are celebrating Canada’s national framework and the historic decision to place a national price on carbon, but we must keep our sights on achieving a truly science-based approach that plots a path to the future. The framework does not yet clearly show how each province and industry will do its fair share in moving towards a sustainable, climate-friendly economy. In particular, it fails to reconcile new pipelines and expanding oil sands development with Canada’s ability to meet its already inadequate climate commitments.” Andrew Gage, Staff Counsel, West Coast Environmental Law Association

“Honouring our Paris climate commitment means moving to a 100 percent renewable energy economy by mid-century. Parts of the framework announced today point in the right direction, but we won’t free ourselves from fossil fuels fast enough to avoid dangerous levels of warming if we allow oil companies to build new tar sands pipelines and liquefied natural gas export facilities that lock us into high levels of carbon pollution for the next 50 years.” Keith Stewart, Head of Greenpeace Canada’s climate change campaign

“If it wasn’t for Trudeau’s recent pipeline approvals, this climate plan would be a historic success. While we acknowledge the accomplishments and hard work to develop this policy framework by the federal government and the provinces, we are concerned that without a managed decline of fossil fuel extraction we will fail to meet our obligations to the Paris Treaty. When you put the recent pipeline approvals beside the climate plan it is clearly about allowing oil companies to profit for as long as possible.” Alex Paterson, Campaigner with Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition.

“The climate announcement made today is historic, yet insufficient. Our federal government deserves support for crafting such a comprehensive plan, however we have a lot of work ahead of us to do better than our current 2030 target and fulfil the promise we made to the world in Paris to strive to keep warming 1.5°C .” Karen Mahon, National Director, Stand.earth

“The plan announced today is a step in the right direction, but it is insufficient. That said, we cannot delay implementation and we must continuously strive to raise the ambition of Canada’s targets and action plan. We must also encourage the inclusion of other important actors such as cities, where important greenhouse gas reductions are possible and where adaptation to climate change is needed.” Audrey Dépault, National Manager, Climate Reality Project Canada

“Unfortunately, Canada’s target is fundamentally incompatible with the Paris Agreement which seeks to limit warming to ‘well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels’ and aspires to 1.5°C. Canada’s target is the weakest in the G7. It does not represent Canada’s fair share in the global effort to reduce emissions. Still, today’s announcement is a tremendous step forward and aligns with the calls to action of Canadian churches in recent years.” Joe Gunn, Executive Director, Citizens for Public Justice

“This is a good start on the way to a cleaner, stronger future for Canada in terms of the economy and the environment. For the first time, Canada has built the foundation of an effective national climate plan that, if fully implemented, will put the country much closer to reaching its 2030 emissions target. For a plan to be credible, it must not send mixed signals about national priorities. Responsible action on climate change means shifting from fossil fuels and diversifying the economy to ensure Canadians have good jobs today and into the future while also protecting the environment. That is what is in the national interest.” Ian Bruce, David Suzuki Foundation Science and Policy Director

CAN-Rac Canada is a coalition of more than 100 organizations from the country that cares about how a changing climate affects people, plants and wildlife. We work to advance solutions to managing our carbon pollution through sustainable and equitable development.

Photo: Équiterre

]]>http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2016/12/10/civil-society-responds-to-release-of-canadas-national-framework-for-climate-action/feed/0WORLD LOOKS TO CANADA FOR EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIPhttp://climateactionnetwork.ca/2016/11/19/world-looks-to-canada-for-exceptional-leadership/
http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2016/11/19/world-looks-to-canada-for-exceptional-leadership/#respondSat, 19 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2016/11/19/world-looks-to-canada-for-exceptional-leadership/CAN-Rac Canada’s Executive Director Catherine Abreu issued the following statement as UN climate negotiations came to a close in Marrakech

MARRAKECH, Morocco (November 18, 2016) – “The spirit of togetherness that made the Paris Agreement possible was alive this week in Marrakech, and it will become more important than ever in the coming months. It was encouraging to see so many countries make commitments that confirmed the global momentum to confront climate change, implement the Paris Agreement, and set a long-term course to hold global warming to 1.5°C.

“What wasn’t as evident at COP22 was a common understanding of the urgent need to support developing countries at the necessary levels. Realizing the Paris Agreement’s goals and protecting the world’s most vulnerable communities require an end to the petty disagreements on finance that so often stall progress.

“Canada has an opportunity to play a constructive role on this and many other issues. It was palpable in Marrakech that the world is now looking to Canada with renewed focus to show exceptional leadership on climate change and the drive to decarbonize the global economy.

“Canada played a solid, steady role at COP22. Canada should be proud of its work to maximize the impact of the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue, a critically important moment when countries will have a chance to assess their progress and amp up their commitments to rapid greenhouse gas reductions. Canada also made a winning case for more gender-inclusive climate policies, led the charge for an upcoming workshop to discuss economic diversification and jobs, and was one of the first countries to get the ball rolling on its long-term climate strategy.

“Yet Canada defaulted to middle-of-the-road positions on a variety issues, including climate and adaptation financing. And the time for middle-of-the-road positioning is over. Canada has a history of punching above its weight, especially in the international arena. To revive this history, we must lock-in climate ambition at home and up our game internationally, particularly on climate finance.

“We know the federal government is working hard to deliver a Pan-Canadian Climate Framework that will ensure we meet our 2030 climate target, and we appreciate that. But we need to both meet and exceed our current insufficient goal, and even the most ambitious Framework will never get us where we need to go if Canada continues to approve new fossil fuel infrastructure.

“We’re past the point where we can trade off a new pipeline against an ambitious building efficiency standard. Climate change is now a zero-sum game, and there are no more trade-offs. Decarbonization has to happen everywhere, all the time, all at once.

“We expect excellence, our international partners expect excellence, and we know Canada can deliver excellence. Canada must be the best it can be on climate change, especially when the world is turning to us for leadership. Canada has the opportunity to be a true international leader, and CAN-Rac is keen to see our country realize that possibility.”

MARRAKECH, Morocco (November 18, 2016) – The government of Canada released an initial draft of their long-term strategy to decarbonize by 2050 today. This plan outlines priority pathways including replacing fossil fuel energy with renewable energy, modernizing the electricity grid, facilitating the movement of electricity between provinces and states, and avoiding stranded assets.

“CAN-Rac welcomes this initiative and congratulates Canada for being one of the first countries to take this important step. A long-term climate vision opens up one of the most timely and important conversations in Canada and globally.

CAN-Rac will work with all levels of government and our members to ensure this plan is fully developed and put into action, and sets us on a path to cutting climate pollution entirely by 2050.

The 80% reduction in emissions currently being modelled in the plan are a start, but we know that we have to get to 100% reduction in order to protect the world’s most vulnerable communities. This can only be done if we take immediate action to meet and then beat our current climate targets. That means not approving new projects that and lock us into dirty energy and keep us out of the global transition off fossil fuels.

For Canada to decarbonize by 2050 we need continual improvement and ambitious goals. Now is the time for Canada and the provinces to agree on what steps they will take today and commit to continual improvement until Canada is fully decarbonized by 2050.

At present the Government of Canada and the provinces are developing a Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change and Clean Growth. If successful the Framework will ensure Canada cuts emissions to meet our 2030 climate goal. CAN-Rac is advocating for the inclusion of an accountability mechanism to ensure that Canada and the provinces continue to increase their ambition over time to exceed that target and make deep reductions in the years to come.